Great loop of the Périgord-Limousin regional natural park
Great loop of the Périgord-Limousin regional natural park
The best way to discover the special features of the Périgord-Limousin is on foot! The great loop (“La Grande Boucle”) of the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park invites you on a 200 km journey over 7 to 10 days’ walking or 3 to 4 days’ mountain biking. Discover the plateaux and valleys of the Périgord, the Limousin bocage and the chestnut forests. Thanks to train and bus connections and the greenways, it’s easy to customise your route: a major advantage that makes this adventure accessible to everyone.
From Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie to Saint-Saud-Lacoussière
26km
Your starting point is at the northern end of the Dordogne, in Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie. This small village is committed to ecology and heritage, with an educational garden that is a refuge for biodiversity, an organic grocery shop and an apiary…. The La Vieille-des-Puits stage, 26km long, takes its name from the legend of the old woman at the well who, with her hooked fingers, catches children who dare to get too close. On your way :
Courbefy, its chapel and fountains dedicated to Saint-Eutrope. These “good fountains” are still the subject of practices and ex-votos today: a living testimony to local folk traditions.
Étang de La Barde & Maison du Parc. Follow the Valouse valley to the banks of the Etang de La Barde, where you’ll find the Maison du Parc Périgord-Limousin: a good point of information. The site is also ideal for watching water birds.
La Coquille, which used to welcome pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, now welcomes you. Here you’ll find convenient shops for shopping and eating out.
Miallet. Halfway along the route, this pleasant stop-off invites you to take a break on the banks of the lake and enjoy its unspoilt setting. The Dronne, which meanders through here, is home to a wealth of flora and fauna, and the area has been designated a Natura 2000 site. In the village of Miallet, you’ll find all the shops you need to stock up and take a break. Take a look at the sundial in the town hall and its Occitan motto: “Lu temps passa, passa lu bien!
You then have almost 13km to go before reaching your destination for the day: Saint-Saud-Lacoussière.
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Saint-Saud-Lacoussière
After 23km and around 6 hours on the road, you’ve reached the end of this first stage. Here you’ll find bed and breakfasts, hotels, campsites and restaurants.
If you fancy a swim, the large lake at Saint-Saud-Lacoussière is ideal: supervised bathing in summer, fishing, picnics and water sports.
On to your second stage: the soufflaculs stage (21.3 km). Leaving Saint-Saud-Lacoussière, you will follow the Dronne and pass close by the Trou de Philipou. This natural site is intriguing for its dark abyss which, according to tradition, could swallow up carts and travellers. A little further on, make a diversion to discover the Saut du Chalard, a waterfall nestling in the granite gorges and surrounded by forests.
On your way:
Chantres, with its 12th-century chapel and fountain, which still sees a few pilgrims on Candlemas Day.
Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière. The town, like many in the region, developed thanks to its waters, which were favourable to tanning and tannery activities. There is still a traditional tannery here today. Here you’ll find all the shops you need for your visit: restaurants, bakeries, tourist office, small shops and supermarkets.
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Nontron
In Nontron, the Périgord region has another facet to reveal: creative craftsmanship. Nontron has been awarded the “Ville et Métiers d’Art” label, and is home to cutlers, leatherworkers, woodworkers, metalworkers and basketmakers. At the Château de Nontron, the Pôle Expérimental des Métiers d’Art exhibits a wide range of creations. The town is most famous for its Nontron knife, considered to be the oldest knife in France (over 500 years old). Other crafts complement this heritage: traditional felt slippers, but also contemporary creations (design, arts and crafts). The town has all the amenities: accommodation, restaurants and shops.
The Aurelha de Lebre stage awaits you on this third day of the long loop of the Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin: 35km for an estimated 8h30 walk to Champniers-Reilhac.
Leaving Nontron, the first part of the route takes you to Augignac and its granite legends, then on to Saint-Estèphe and its Grand-étang (large lake) created by the monks. Continue on to Piégut-Pluviers, then Saint-Barthélémy-de-Bussière and finally Champniers-Reilhac, where a mysterious underground fountain is a reminder of ancient water cults.
Don’t miss
Augignac and the Roche Eyzide, a 6-metre-high granite chaos, also known as the “Shepherdess Rock”, frozen for eternity by fairies to escape the wolves.
Saint-Estèphe bears witness to the importance of ironworking in the Périgord region, with its old cutlery works and traditional blacksmith’s forge. It is also famous for its grand-étang, created in the 12th century by the Grandmont monks. Today, it’s a popular spot for swimming and outdoor activities. You’ll find campsites, shops and restaurants in Saint-Estèphe.
Piégut-Pluviers, its tower and market. Standing on its rocky spur, the tower of Piégut dominates the village. But it is above all its Wednesday morning market that has made its reputation far beyond the Périgord region. Poultry, cheeses, clothes and crafts are all on sale, and you can still hear the Occitan language being spoken. An authentic experience not to be missed.
Saint-Barthélémy-de-Bussière and the Courarie site, home to an impressive megalithic chamber carved out of granite and dating from the 5th millennium BC. This site bears witness to the first farmers in our hills, and is a reminder of the age of human occupation in the Périgord-Limousin.
This stage ends at Champniers-Reilhac.
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Champniers-et-Reilhac
You’ve arrived in Champniers-et-Reilhac! In the crypt of the Romanesque church at Reilhac, a mysterious underground fountain evokes ancient water cults, Christianised over time. Pilgrims and hikers still draw water from the fountain, perpetuating an age-old tradition.
From Champniers-et-Reilhac to Les-Salles-Lavauguyon
15km - 3h30 on foot
It’s off for the 4th stage of the Grand Loop of the PNR: the “Du Lepinhou” stage! Starting in Champniers-et-Reilhac, you’ll cross the Nauzon, a discreet but symbolic stream. This is where communes, départements and landscapes meet. Meadows and roofs may seem to change from one side to the other, but the unity of the Périgord-Limousin remains – geologically, historically and culturally.
On your route :
Maisonnais-sur-Tardoire. The commune is renowned for its honey production, celebrated every year at the honey festival (3ᵉ weekend in September). The honey trail is a reminder of the importance of this activity, driven by the abundance of flowers, acacias and chestnut trees. The village also boasts a number of heritage features, including its church and the dovecote opposite.
The ruins of Lavauguyon castle: as you leave Maisonnais, you will see the remains of this fortress built in the XIIᵉ and XVᵉ centuries, destroyed during the Revolution and long used as a stone quarry.
The stage ends at the village of Les Salles-Lavauguyon.
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Les-Salles-Lavauguyon
The Romanesque church of Saint-Eutrope is a major site in Périgord-Limousin: its west facade, influenced by neighbouring Saintonge, and above all its 12thᵉ century frescoes make it an interesting stopover. The latter are the subject of restoration efforts. Next door, the medieval priory and devotional fountain are a reminder of the spiritual importance of the place. In days gone by, pilgrims and shepherdesses came to ask Saint Eutrope for protection against rheumatism and lameness. Today, the village café run by the Comité des Fêtes offers a convivial space and a variety of events throughout the year.
Nestling in the Gorre valley, this small town combines heritage and conviviality. The Romanesque church of Saint-Laurent dominates the centre, while the old mills are a reminder of the river’s importance in local history. The village has retained a peaceful atmosphere, with its narrow streets and stone bridges.
It’s also a practical stop-off point for walkers, with grocery shops, a bakery, a pharmacy, cafés and a number of bed & breakfasts making Saint-Laurent-sur-Gorre a well-equipped stop-off point.
The local lake, at the entrance to the village, is a pleasant place to relax, whether you’re having a picnic or taking a break by the water.
From Saint-Laurent-sur-Gorre to Champagnac-la-Rivière
14km - 3h30 on foot
This short “flying hunt” stage leaves the market town of Saint-Laurent-sur-Gorre for Champagnac-la-Rivière, passing through villages, plateaux and ancient moorland. In particular, the route follows a “route de Pouge”, the ridge paths that were once used as communication routes and still offer beautiful panoramic views today. The route is marked by the presence of a dolmen, typical moorland landscapes and the memory of Champagnac’s rich industrial past. Practical tip: There are few shops or refreshment points along the route, so make sure you have enough water and snacks from Saint-Laurent-sur-Gorre onwards. Points of interest along the route :
La Côte dolmen: evidence of the age of the route, linked to Neolithic burial rites.
Lande des Jarosses: typical Limousin moorland landscape, an ancient natural environment now preserved for its biodiversity. The Jarosses moorland is exposed to the sun: take along some protection from the sun or wind, depending on the season.
Champagnac-la-Rivière: traces of past industrial activity (forges and wire-drawing mills at La Rivière), the memory of a region shaped by peasant workers.
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Champagnac-la-Rivière
Champagnac-la-Rivière is a small market town in the Périgord region of France, with a strong heritage of past industrial activities (La Rivière forges and wire-drawing mills) and practices linked to good fountains. The Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul fountain, below the village, was reputed to ward off night terrors and other ailments. Around Champagnac, many springs are still known for their symbolic or healing virtues. In the past, these springs were frequented on the advice of the “metteuses de part”, women with ancestral knowledge who recommended the right fountain for each ailment. The village still has a pleasant setting, with its valleys and paths lined with woods and meadows. There are a number of local shops and accommodation, making it a convenient stop-off point for walkers in search of peace and authenticity.
The “metteuse en part” stage leads from Champagnac-la-Rivière to Dournazac, along a route marked by popular traditions linked to fountains and by the area’s medieval and industrial past. The route passes through pretty valley landscapes, past imposing châteaux and ends in the land of the chestnut tree, the emblematic resource of the Périgord.
Practical tips:
Bring water and something to eat as there are limited possibilities between Champagnac and Dournazac.
The fountains are sometimes in wooded areas: wet paths are possible depending on the season, suitable footwear recommended.
Points of interest along the route :
Fountains in Champagnac and the surrounding area: numerous springs with healing properties, once recommended by the “metteuses de part”, female figures of local tradition.
Pont-planche du village des Mondoux: typical stone slab footbridge of the Limousin.
Bonnes fontaines de Cussac: a high spiritual and ritual place, associated with St John’s Day, still visible with its crosses, votive trees and ex-votos.
Route Richard Cœur de Lion: heritage route linking the feudal fortresses of the region, you will pass by the Château de Brie (15th c.), a fine example of seigniorial architecture, as well as Château de Montbrun, an imposing medieval fortress with a square keep.
Puyconnieux (498 m): highest point of the stage, with panoramic views of the Haut-Limousin, the Monédières and the Dordogne.
Verger conservatoire de Vignéras (Dournazac): collection of local chestnut varieties.
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Dournazac
In Dournazac, you arrive in Périgord chestnut country! Its vast chestnut groves give structure to the landscape and bear witness to a long agricultural history. The conservatory orchard at Vignéras lists the local varieties and illustrates the importance of this fruit that has fed generations. Around the village, you can still see clédiers, small circular drying sheds used in the past to preserve chestnuts.
Every autumn, on the last Sunday in October, the Chestnut Festival livens up the streets with a market, tastings and traditional entertainment.
In addition to its natural heritage, Dournazac offers hikers all the services they need: shops, restaurants, gîtes and B&Bs. It’s a welcoming place to stop off for a good meal or accommodation before continuing on your way.
This final stage of the “Lébérou” crosses the “hardwood country”, in the heart of the chestnut groves that have shaped the landscapes and economy of the Périgord-Limousin. The route evokes the memory of the charcoal makers and wood craftsmen, before joining the Dordogne and the unspoilt landscapes of the Vieillecour forest. This is both a heritage and a nature trail, combining rural traditions, local legends and wide forest horizons.
Practical tips :
This stage has no major difficulties, but there are some wet stretches in the forest.
Few services between Dournazac and Saint-Pierre: bring water and snacks. At Firbeix, you can stock up on basic supplies before entering the forest.
Points of interest along the route :
Firbeix: a small village in the Dordogne, formerly a relay station on the Limoges-Périgueux road (RN21). Here you’ll find a number of useful shops and services for walkers before heading off into the quieter lanes of the Périgord countryside.
Forêt de Vieillecour: this vast forest was a hotbed of the Resistance during the Second World War, and is now renowned for its wildlife (particularly the stag bellowing in autumn).
Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie: a charming village committed to an ecological approach and to promoting its rural heritage.
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Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie
You’re back in Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie! You’ve followed the great loop of the Parc Naturel Régional du Périgord Limousin all the way to the end! You’ll find plenty of places to rest and eat here, and it’s well deserved! Nestling in a verdant valley, Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie is renowned for its pioneering commitment to ecology and sustainable development. Pesticides have been banned here for many years, and both public spaces and private gardens leave plenty of room for flowers, hedges and pollinating insects. The perfectly-kept market town boasts granite houses and a rich religious heritage, including a Romanesque church dating from the XIᵉ century. Hikers will find practical services here, with a community grocery shop, a friendly inn and a number of nearby accommodation options. It is also a welcoming place for travellers looking for a relaxing, environmentally-friendly setting, where you can discover both local flavours and an exemplary approach to rural transition.
All-inclusive discovery tour on an electrically-assisted mountain bike
We've thought of everything!
LA GRANDE BOUCLE du Parc Périgord-Limousin
Electrically Assisted Mountain Bike Discovery Stay
202 km – 5 DAYS
694 € / pers. all included – NaturAutrement supervised tour.
Accommodation at Le Souffle Vert in a loop room! Double picnic with shower room and toilet. Full board (picnic lunch provided), welcome drink, beds made up on arrival, towels provided, access to fitness room.
